Eighty new jobs boost for the region

Ettrick Riverside Business Centre, Selkirk.

Utility Warehouse will open a customer service hub at Selkirk’s Ettrick Riverside on June 12 as part of a five-year expansion plan.

The energy, broadband, mobile and home insurance services provider has already hired 25 new advisers for the hub in Selkirk, with a view to take on a further 55 over the next 18 months.

The new team will focus on UW’s energy pre-payment customers.

The Selkirk hub is UW’s second outside London and is part of a drive to create customer service “centres of excellence” across the country. It follows the opening of a site in Burnley last year.

Andrew Lindsay, co-chief executive of Utility Warehouse, said: “Our business is delivering exceptional growth as we help more families than ever before save on their essential household bills.

“As a proud Scot, it’s great to be investing in Selkirk, creating local jobs and long-term career opportunities in the Scottish Borders.

“Excellent customer service is fundamental to our success and our new Selkirk team will play a key role in ensuring our prepayment customers receive the very best help and advice.”

Mr Lindsay is confident the company will thrive in the town – despite other town energy firms on the Ettrick Riverside folding in recent years, including Spark Energy, Ovo Energy and People’s Energy.

He added: “We are more than an energy company – we are a multi-utility company who provide broadband, mobile and insurance as well as energy.

“Our aim is to be a one-stop shop for households with their bills.

“And it is that approach that has allowed us to carry on growing and acquiring customers during what has been a difficult 18 months for the energy market.”

South of Scotland Enterprise owns the business centre and agreed to lease the space to create the new hub.

Russel Griggs, chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, added: “Our new five-year plan committed us to attracting ambitious investment, and the new UW hub will provide a significant boost to the local economy and provide opportunities for local people.”